Singing with older people - for reminiscence, health, fun and even performance

Singing is enormously beneficial for everyone, and as you get older it really helps with memory. Its also a great way of making friends and connecting with other people. I work with different elderly groups in Suffolk, in sheltered accommodation and residential and day care; singing for fun , performing and also on occasion composing . My most ambitious project to date was with the Sainsbury Centre (UEA) 'Culture of the Countryside' initiative - I wrote four songs with residents of Beech House Halesworth and we performed them with the residents and Halesworth Community choir on stage at our local Arts Centre, The New Cut. I'm currently working with Suffolk Artlink on a project called 'Side by side' bringing the Arts to people with dementia and their carers.